Metal wheel construction



May 10,1927. 1,627,772

E. E. EINFELDT METAL WHEEL CONSTRUCTI ON Filed July 21, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 10,1927. 1,627,772

E. E. EINFELDT METAL WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 21, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 May 10, 1927.

METAL WHEEL CONSTRUCTI ON Filed July 21, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A TTZME Y5 Patented May 10, 1927.

worse stares PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. EINFELDT, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO G- WATSON FRENOH 'AND JOSEPH L. HEGHT, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA, AND W. H. STACKHOUSE, 01 SPRING FIELD', OHIO, DOING BUSINESS. AS FRENCH & HECHT, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, AND

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

METAL WH EL consrnuorron.

Application filed. July 21,

This invention relates to metal wheels, and more particularly to the type of wheel having two rows or ranks of spokes connected at their outer ends to the wheel rim and at their inner ends to hub members, to which a bearing box at the center of the wheel is fastened. In wheels-of this type, a tension on the spokes may be produced, and a tension wheel formed, by spreading the two hub members apart and fastening them in their spaced position to the bearing box.

The present invention consists of an 1mproved form .of the hub members and bearing box, adapted to facilitate their assemblage and connection together, whether for use in connection with a tension wheel or not, which will admit of the convenient, removal of the box for repairs or its replacement by a new box, and which when employed in connection with a tension wheel, will in the re-assembling of the parts place the spokes under the same tension as that ,previously existing.

The improved features of construct on and arrangement of parts will be fully set forth in the specification to follow, and the novel characteristics thereof. pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1v is a section taken axially through the hub portion of a, wheel and the connected box, having my invention embodled therein.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, as viewed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken axially through the two hub rings or sections, disconnectedfrom the box.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the hub rings and box partially assembled for connection together, p

- Fi 5 is a section taken axially of the comp ete wheel, showing the hub rings and connected box in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of one of the hub rings, showing a special construction of the same to admit of the as-- semblage and connection. of the parts in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a portion-of the box. Referring to the drawings:

1926. Serial No. 123,828.

As best shown in Figs. land 6' ofthe wheel embodying my invention comprises a rim 1, two annular, spaced, hub rings or sections 2 and 3 connected with the rim'iby two ranks or rows of spokes 4, and a hearing box 5 extending within and connected with the hub rings.

The hub rings are of angular or L-shape form in cross section, comprising each a radial portion 6 and a connected overhangmg edge flange 7, to which flanges the inner ends of the spokes are fixedlyconnected, as

for instance by shoulders near the ends of the spokes, bearing against.the outer sides of the flanges. and heads on the inner ends of the spokes, bearing against the inner sides of the flanges, the said rings being arranged relatively with the flanges facing away from each other.

These hub rings surround. .th'e box 5 and are fastened thereto by meansof two sets of fastening bolts, a set 8v for the hub ring 2, and 'a set 9 for the hubgring 3, which bolts extend through the radial portions of the rings, and through lugs 10 and 11 projecting outwardly from the box respectively at 1 points near-its opposite ends. In'the .present instance there are four of these lugs near each end of the box, and the rings 2 and 3" are seated respectively against the same sides of the two setsof lugs, the heads of bolts 8 bearing against the radial portion 6 of the ring 2, and the nuts on said bolts bearing agamstthe lugs 10, while the'heads on the bolts 9 bear against the lugs 11, and the nuts on said bolts bear against the radial portion of the'ring 3, all as clearly shown in Fig. -1.

It will be understood that in making and assembling the parts described, the spokes will first be fastened as shown to the rim and the two hub rings to form acomplete unit, and it is the assemblage of this unit on the-box, or relatively speaking the assemblage of the'box within this unit, and the connection of the two together, with which my invention is chiefly concerned. To eifect the assemblage of the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, one of the hub rings, the

formed,-so that the box may be insertedendwise'withinthe hub rings and the; lugsat the leading end'of the box,'the-lugs 10 ,in

"ring 2 in the'present instance, is peculiarly I the present instance, permitted 'to the.

radial portion of the hub ring first encountered, the' hub ring 3 in the present case, whereby the lugs may be brought to seat against the ring 2 and the lugs 11 against the ring 3, To effect this mode of assemblage, the radial portion of the ring 3 has formed in it, between the holes through which the bolts 9 extend, cavities or recesses 12,four in number as best shown in Fig. 2 in spaced relation to each other corresponding to the spacing of the four lugs on the box, which cavities are-each of a size which will permit the respective lugs at the leading end of the box to pass through them, so that after the lugs have been passed through the cavities, and the two sets of lugs brought up against .the respective hub rings, the box by bein turned around a short distance circ erntially, will cause the bolt holes in the two sets of lugs to align with the'bolt holes in the radial portions of the hub rings, whereupon the fastening bolts may be mserted andthe'parts firmly bolted together in the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the bolt holes in the lugs 10 are in alignment with those in the lugs 11, and that the bolt holes in the hub ring 3 are in ali ent with those in the hub r ng 2, and that when the lugs on the box are aligned with the recesses 12 in the ring 3 for the insertion of .the box therein, the bolt holes 'inthe In S will-be out of alignment with those in t e rings, so that it will require a circumferential turn of the parts relatively to, bring the bolt hbles on the two units into alignment to receive the fastening bolts. In the assemblage of the parts therefore, the box is inserted endwise into the hub rings, 40 withthe lugson' the box aligned with the cavities 12 in the ring 3 as show-n in Fig. 4, and when the/ box has been brought to position with the two sets of lugs abutting against the'tworings it is turned circumferentially a short distance, sufiicient to cause'the-holes in the lugs to align with the holes 'in the rings, whereupon the fastening bolts may be inserted in the aligned holes and the parts bolted'together, as shown in is obvious from the foregoing description, that the parts may be dis-assembled to permit of the removalof the .box for repairs, or for its replacement by a new one, by sun 1y removing the fastening bolts, turning the x around sufiiciently to align the lugs on the box with the recessesin thehub ring, and then withdrawing the box endwise from the rings. If the reiation of the parts is such that in their assembled connected condition, the spokes are under tension, it is apparent that in their re-assembla e, after removal of the box as above descr d, the I spokes will be placed under the same degree there being therefore no change or disturbance of such tension in the replacement of the box.

In constructing the parts for the production of a tension wheel, it will be understood that the spacin; of the two sets of lugs in relation to the spacing of the hub rings, will be such, that, to seat the hub rings against the lugs, such se aration of the rings from each other'will be necessary as will place the spokes under tension.

In the foregoing description and accompanying drawings I have set forth my invention in the particular detailed form and arrangement of parts which I prefer to adopt, but it will be uderstood that these details may be variously changed and modifled without departing from the spirit of the invention; and further it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is: Y

1. In a wheel, the, combination of a rim, two spaced hub rings formed at intervals with bolt holes, two ranks of spokes connected to the rim and hub rings, a bearing box provided with two sets of lugs said sets being s aced from each other axially of the box an having bolt holes'therethrough, and

adapted to seat against the res ective hub rings, and fastening bolts extending through the holes in the lugs and hub rm? and serving to secure said parts detacha ly together, one of said hub rings being formed between its bolt holes with recesses, adapted to permit of the passage. throu h them, of. one of the sets of lugs 1n the en wise inser tion of the box in the rings to assemble the parts.

2. In a wheel, the combination of a rim, two spaced hub rings provided with bolt holes, two ranks of spokes connected at their outer ends to the rim and at their inner ends 310 to the hub rings, a bearing box provided with two sets of lugs, said sets being s aced from each other axially of the box an hav: ing bolt holes therethrough and adapted to seat against the respective hub rings, and one of said hub rings being formed between its bolt holes with recesses adapted to permit the assage through them of one of the setsof ugs, when the box .is inserted endwise in the hub rings to assemble the arts, the relation of the recesses to the bolt oles ,in the lugs and rings being such, that, when the rings andbox are shifted circumferentially relatively to each other after the passage of the lugs through the recesses, the bolt holes in the rings will. be brought into registry with the-bolt holes in the lugs, and taste bolts extending through said bolt holes an serving to secure the parts detachno ably, together.

5 ranks of spokes connected at their outer ends to the rim and at their inner ends to said edge flanges, a bearing box provided with two sets of lugs having bolt holes therethrough, said sets being spaced from each 10 other axially of the box, and adapted to seat against the radial portion'sof the respective hub rings, and fastening bolts extending through the holes in the lugs and radial portions of the rings, and serving to secure said parts detachably together, the radial portion of one of said hub rings being formed between its bolt holes with recesses adapted to permit of the assage through them, of one of the sets of ugs in the endwise insertion of the box in the rings to assemble the parts.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature hereto.

.ERNEST E. EINFELDT. 

